Outgoing Secretary-General of OECD says action on environmental crises must be defining focus of wealthy countries after Covid

The outgoing Secretary-General of the OECD Ángel Gurría said the coronavirus crisis must be dealt with as a matter of urgency, but that the biggest task after that would be tackling the world’s environmental emergencies. Fiona Harvey reports in The Guardian about the views of Mr. Gurría on the climate crisis. In a separate article … Continue reading Outgoing Secretary-General of OECD says action on environmental crises must be defining focus of wealthy countries after Covid →

Britain comes up with its own emissions trading scheme

On January 1st, EiD had a post about Britain, Brexit and ETS and where everything was heading. Now Andrew Warren, Chairman of the British Energy Efficiency Federation writes in February issue of Energy in Buildings & Industry about Britain’s own emissions trading scheme. Although the UK has set its own scheme, it is likely that, … Continue reading Britain comes up with its own emissions trading scheme →

Energy transition? Many countries still actively subsidise fossil fuel extraction and use

Despite an agreement at the G20 in 2009 to eliminate fossil fuel subsidies, the US, China and Russia alone spent US$909 billion (£656 billion) on them in 2017, the most recent year available – that’s nearly 40% more than in 2009. Neil McCulloch, Associate Fellow of Political Economy at the Institute of Development Studies and … Continue reading Energy transition? Many countries still actively subsidise fossil fuel extraction and use →

US trails China and EU in creating clean energy jobs

Alexandra Ellerbeck writes on the Washington Post website about the challenges facing the Biden administration to create millions of jobs, particularly related to battery technology critical for powering electric cars and storing solar and wind energy China, Europe way ahead of U.S. when it comes to clean energy jobs President Biden has promised that … Continue reading US trails China and EU in creating clean energy jobs →

New report argues that the only way to offset the socio-economic devastation resulting from the pandemic is to make “smart investments in economic, societal and climate resilience”

The SDG Hub of the International Institute for Sustainable Development discusses a new UN report that underscores role of SDGs in emerging from the pandemic. The report depicts resilience as going hand-in-hand with sustainable development, noting that one cannot exist without the other. World Economic Situation and Prospects Report Underscores Role of SDGs in … Continue reading New report argues that the only way to offset the socio-economic devastation resulting from the pandemic is to make “smart investments in economic, societal and climate resilience” →

The pledges countries made to reduce emissions as part of the 2015 Paris agreement are woefully inadequate

The commitments to meet our 2015 Paris agreement are simply not enough, according to a new study published this week. The study found that even if countries were to meet their existing pledges, the world has only about a 5 percent chance to limit the Earth’s warming to “well below” 2 degrees Celsius over preindustrial … Continue reading The pledges countries made to reduce emissions as part of the 2015 Paris agreement are woefully inadequate →

French court decision this week “a historic victory for climate justice”

French judges have ruled that the government is failing to meet its obligations to fight climate change in a decision hailed as a triumph for environmental campaigners. Charles Bremner writes on The Times website about this week’s developments. France failing to meet Paris climate pledge French judges have ruled that the government is failing … Continue reading French court decision this week “a historic victory for climate justice” →

Automakers recognise the future importance of electrification but still need to increase fuel efficiency

Though EVs are important, it’s emissions from the entire automobile fleet – meaning vehicles of all types and sizes – that ultimately matter for climate. John DeCicco, Research Professor Emeritus at the University of Michigan argues in an article on The Conversation website about the need to continue increasing fuel efficiency. To make the … Continue reading Automakers recognise the future importance of electrification but still need to increase fuel efficiency →

Proposed carbon border levy would be strong signal to EU firms

Neil Kellard, Dean, Professor in Finance, Essex Business School at the University of Essex writes on The Conversation website about the impact of the proposed carbon border levy. What are your views? Why the EU's proposed carbon border levy is an important test for global action on climate change In the more than two … Continue reading Proposed carbon border levy would be strong signal to EU firms →

Climate change: the need for more diversity in boardrooms

Despite improvements in gender equality, numbers are still lagging. The link between gender diversity and carbon footprint may not be obvious. Of five groups of businesses, the least diverse were twice as likely to fail to disclose the bare minimum of GHG data as the most diverse. A 2019 Credit Suisse study found that companies … Continue reading Climate change: the need for more diversity in boardrooms →